Teri duo continue hot streak

Dylan Ali takes the spoils in the one-lap handicap at Peebles Beltane Sports

Published:07:52Thursday 25 June 2015

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Young Hawick runners Dylan Ali and Fraser Clyne turned out to be a real dynamic duo at Peebles Beltane Sports on Sunday.

The teenage pair excelled in winning their respective events and in doing so recorded their third victories of a season which is only four weeks old.

Following sprint triumphs at Hawick and Selkirk Games, Ali’s Peebles success this time came in the one-lap handicap.

Competing from a back mark of 7m, the 19 year old stormed to a splendid win in his heat in a race that measures 266 metres.

A member of the Hawick Sprint Club, which has Che Campbell as its coach, Ali then fired on all cylinders again in the final to hit the tape in 21.96 seconds.

Reflecting on his win, he told the Hawick News: “That was my sort of race. I enjoy running in sprints but like running in races such as the one-lap, 200m and the 400m more.

“I had to go hard right from the start in both my heat and in the final because there were such a lot of runners in front of me and I wanted to try to catch them as quick as possible. Everything worked out for me, though, and it’s brilliant to have won three finals in a row.”

Ali’s coach Campbell commented: “Dylan is a natural. He can perform at a high level at different distances as he showed today. Besides this, he has great attitude and does everything that is asked of him.”

Thirteen-year-old Fraser Clyne also shone for Hawick on the Whitestone Park track by taking pride of place in the youths’ 1,600m handicap.

Victor in the youths’ 800 and 1,600m handicaps at the opening meeting of the season at Earlston Games, Teviotdale Harrier Clyne showed up well from the gun when striding purposefully out from his mark of 205m.

In a big field in which the front runner was going from a handicap of 430m, Clyne found himself in third place at the start of the home straight.And with little separating the first three, the race had all the makings of being a close affair.

And it certainly ended up this way, with leader Jack Amos of Jedburgh (215m) appearing to be heading for victory in the latter stages. Hawick High School pupil Clyne, however, had other ideas.

Showing great heart and determination, he pulled out that something extra towards the finishing line to take the honours in 4 minutes 46.95 seconds.

Following his win, Clyne said: “I had to run very hard to win. When I saw Jack Amos was in front of me I wasn’t sure if I could catch him but I kept pushing on. I just tried my best and I managed to get past him and I was very happy to do this.”

Hawick also made its mark in gaining places throughout the Peebles meeting.

David Lauder (13.5m) emerged second in the final of the 110m behind Kelso’s Fraser Neil (7m).

In the final of the youths’ 90m handicap, Ronan McKean (7m) was just edged out by Niall Smith of Eastriggs (3m).

Jordan Taylor (120m) was second to Alistair Laurie of Selkirk (360m) in the 1,600m handicap.

Bruce Hughes (80m) gained second place in the 3,200m handicap. Glenrothes John Thomson (190m) was the winner.

Nicky Sutherland (27m) also showed up well in the junior 90m handicap, in which she was second to Kacey Taitt of TLJT (30m).

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